D-I Poll: Chapman Gets a Turn
ATLANTA – For the third time in as many weeks, we have new No. 1 in the MCLA Division I New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll and this time it’s Chapman that receives top billing.
Thanks to the two previous top-ranked teams each losing in the span of four days last week, the Panthers (6-0) vault into big chair by poaching 18 of the 27 first-place votes cast.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, as three of Chapman’s next four games come against Top 10 outfits, starting with a home affair against No. 5 Utah Valley (5-0) on Thursday.
Brigham Young (4-0) jumps two spots in the poll, settling in at No. 2. The Cougars will get to prove their mettle this week in Jacksonville, Fla., with contests against No. 7 Liberty (6-2) and No. 14 Florida (4-3). BYU accumulated four first-place tallies.
Texas (9-0) is the big mover this week, jumping six spots all the way up to No. 3 – the Longhorns highest-ever ranking. Texas makes the leap after a 3-0 weekend in Berkeley that included a win over former No. 1 and current No. 8 Georgia Tech (8-2). The ‘Horns were awarded four first-place votes, as well.
Virginia Tech (8-1), which slipped out of the top spot last week, checks in at No. 4 after an idle interval. The Hokies will resume play with a bang, hosting Chapman and Utah Valley in a three-day span starting on March 21.
Georgia (3-5) left the Top 25 this week to make way for Indiana (6-0). The Hoosiers enter the poll for the first time in a decade.
MCLA D-I New Balance Coaches Poll – Week 4
RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1st VOTES |
1. | Chapman | 665 | 18 |
2. | Brigham Young | 625 | 4 |
3. | Texas | 601 | 4 |
4. | Virginia Tech | 593 | 1 |
5. | Utah Valley | 574 | |
6. | San Diego State | 537 | |
7. | Liberty | 488 | |
8. | Georgia Tech | 483 | |
9. | South Carolina | 450 | |
10. | California | 422 | |
11. | UC Santa Barbara | 394 | |
12. | Colorado | 378 | |
13. | Tennessee | 346 | |
14. | Florida | 321 | |
15. | Florida State | 305 | |
16. | James Madison | 264 | |
17. | Oregon | 227 | |
18. | Arizona State | 192 | |
19. | Auburn | 189 | |
20. | Simon Fraser | 175 | |
21. | Northeastern | 124 | |
22. | Arizona | 90 | |
23. | Cal Poly | 72 | |
24. | Colorado State | 41 | |
25. | Indiana | 38 |
Others receiving votes: Georgia (36), Boise State (30), Clemson (30), Utah (23), Southern Methodist (21), Michigan State (13), Sonoma State (11), Baylor (7), New Hampshire (4), West Virginia (4), Boston College (2).